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Daily World garners top honors at annual competition

The Daily World

The Daily World garnered two prestigious first place awards Saturday night from the Society of Professional Journalists at the organizations annual Excellence in Journalism competition.

The entire staff of The Daily World was awarded top honors for its comprehensive coverage of the attack at the Grays Harbor County Courthouse where Judge David Edwards was stabbed and Deputy Polly Davin was shot in March of last year.

Former Daily World writer and current Vidette Editor Steven Friederich also received first place recognition for government reporting for a story on the Grays Harbor County Commission.

“What is particularly gratifying about recognition of the courthouse attacks is that every person in the newsroom contributed,” said Daily World Editor Doug Barker. “The trust we had developed with sources over years of daily reporting really paid off and helped bring a gripping story to readers. Once the initial story of the attack and later the capture of Steven Kravetz was told, we reported on the broader issues of public security at the courthouse and mental health in the justice system.

“It’s a good example of the importance of good journalism in a community,” Barker added.

Friederich’s story detailed an instance where the county commissioners voted to take action on something without actually disclosing the subject or nature of the action, another solid example of watchdog reporting recognized by the society’s judges.

The wins follow a successful previous year’s slate of Daily World winners for 2011, including longtime Daily World Sports Editor Rick Anderson, who won second place for sports columns for his “Going the Rounds” column, and Friederich’s second place finish in the Arts & Entertainment category.